Monty Python and the Holy Grail

This is the official 'Unoffical' Monty Python And The Holy Grail screenplay. This file contains the script as it was on March 20 1974, before filming took place.There are many minor differences from what appears here and what ended up on the screen. This file also contains cut scenes and lines from the film.

I tried to preserve as much of the screenplay as possible but it isn't easy to cross out a section and pencil in new dialogue, in ASCII. Any Scene or dialogue that was crossed out begins with a "" before it. Anything Penciled in has a "", I also put cut information before penciled in.

What is interesting about a screenplay is to see what they threw out and what "Catch Phrases" were literally penciled in.The reason I keyed in this file was caused by me downloading current transcript going around internet.It was an amazing job... I wouldn't want to have attempted what he did... But it wasn't in a good script format and I didn't like how direction was written in. Since I HAD the real screenplay I thought... What the hell!

After This I plan to key in "Monty Python's Second Film" it is the 1st draft of the Holy Grail. It is the script that eventually got canabalized into sketches for the 4th season of Python.It Is sill quite different and well worth a read. is anybody interested in it?????

Oh yes... I will STRESS this fact once more... THIS IS A SCREENPLAY... So don't yell at me if a line is paraphrased in the film... This is what was written before filming took place and it is still quite accurate.

Enough of this...

-Grue (09-Aug-92)

P.S. TO AHH:DON'T YOU KNOW WHO CONNIE BOOTH OR CAROL CLEVELAND IS?!?!?! AND DON'T YOU KNOW WHAT GRAHAM CHAPMAN SOUNDS LIKE?!?!?! Sorry I just had to say that... As the complete and total bastard that I am. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL"Reel 1 (1A) Page 1 00.01 is the first action frame which is 391.00 before the first Clear Cut, which is Scene 4

ScSpot No.Complete DIALOGUENo. StartEndFtge. --------------------------------------------------- 1 FADE IN: Starts 00.01TITLES ON BLACK B.G.

PYTHON (MONTY) PICTURES LTD in association with MICHAEL WHITE presents

FADE OUT: FADE IN: MUSIC STARTS

FADE OUT: FADE IN:

Written and preformed by: GRAHAM CHAPMAN JOHN CLEESE ERIC IDLE TERRY GILLIAM TERRY JONES MICHAEL PALIN then: R0tern nik Akten Di FADE OUT: FADE IN: with CONNIE BOOTH CAROL CLEVELAND NEIL INNES BEE DUFFELL JOHN YOUNG RITA DAVES then: Wik TITLE OUT: TITLE IN: Also appearing AVRIL STEWART SALLY KINGHORN then: Als0 wik FADE OUT: FADE IN: Also also appearing MARK ZYCOONELSPETH CAMERON MITSUKO FORSTATERSALLY JOHNSON SANDY ROSEROMILLY SQUIE JONI FLNNALISON WALKER LORAINE WARDANNA LANSKI SALLY COOMBEVIVIENNE MACDONALD YVONNE DICKDAPHNE DARLING FIONA GORDONGLORIA GRAHAM JUDY LAMSTRACY SNEDDON SYLVIA TAYLORJOYCE POLLNER MARY ALLEN then: Als0 als0 wik TITLE OUT: TITLE IN: Camera Operator HOWARD ATHERTON Camera Focus JOHN WELLARD Camera Assistant ROGER PRATT Camera Grip RAY HALL Chargehand Electrician TERRY HUNT Lighting TELEFILM LIGHTING SERVICE LTD ANDREW RICHIE AND SON LTD TECHNICOLOR Rosturm Cameraman KENT HOUSTON then: Wi n0t trei a h0liday in Sweden thi yer? TITLE OUT: TITLE IN: Sound Recordist GARTH MARSHALL Sound Mixer HUGH STRAIN Boom Swinger GODFREY KIRBY Sound Maintenance PHILIP CHUBB Sound Assistant ROBERT DOYLE Dubbing Editor JOHN FOSTER Assistant Editors JOHN MISTER, NICK GASTER, ALEXANDER CAMPBELL ASKEW, BRIAN PEACHEY, DANIELLE KOCHAVI Sound Effects IAN CRAFFORD then: See the l0veli lakes TITLE OUT: TITLE IN: Continuity PENNY EYLES Accountant BRIAN BROCKWELL Production Secretary CHRISTINE WATT Property Buyer BRIAN WINTERBORN Property Master TOM RAEBURN Property Men ROY CANNON, CHARLIE TORBETT, MIKE KENNEDY Catering RON HELLARD LTD Vehicles BUDGET RENT-A-CAR then: The W0nderful teleph0ne system TITLE OUT: TITLE IN: Assistant Art Director PHILIP COWLAM Construction Manager BILL HARMAN Carpenters NOBBY CLARK, BOB DEVINE Painter GRAHAM BULLOCK StagehandJIM N. SAVERY RiggerED SULLIVAN then: And mani interesting furry animals TITLE IN: TITLE OUT: With special extra thanks to Charlie Knode, Brian McNully, John Gledhill, Peter Thompson, Sue Cable, Valerie Charlton, Drew Mara, Sue Smith, Charlie Coulter, Iain Monaghan, Steve Bennell, Bernard Belenger, Alpini McAlpine, Hugh Boyle, Dave Taylor, Garry Cooper, Peter Saunders, Less Sheppard, Vaughn Millard, Mamish MacInnes, Terry Mosaic, Bawn O'Beirne Ranelagh.

Made entirely on location in Scotland at Doune Castle, Castle Stalker, Killin, Glen Coe, Arnhall Castle, Braklim falls, Sherroffmiur.

By Python (Monty) Pictures Ltd., 20, Fitzroy Square, London W1 England. And completed at Twickenham Film Studios, England.

Copyright (c) 1974 National Film Trustee Company Lt. All Rights Reserved. then: The producers would like to thank the Forestry Commission Doune Admissions Ltd, Keir and Cawdor Estates, Stirling University, and the people of Doune for their help in the making of this film.

The Characters and incidents portrayed and the names used are fictitious and any similarity to the names, characters, or history of any person is entirely accidental and unintentional.

Signed RICHARD M. NIXON

Including the majestic m00se TITLE IN: TITLE OUT: Songs NEIL INNIS

Additional music DEWOLFE then: A M00se once bit my sister ... TITLE IN: TITLE OUT: Costume Designer HAZEL PETHING then: No realli!She was Karving her initals on the m00se with the sharpened end of an interspace t00thbrush given by Svenge - her brother-in-law - an Oslo dentist and star of many Norwegian m0vies: "The H0t Hands of an Oslo Dentist", "Fillings of Passion", "The Huge M0lars of Horst Nordfink". TITLE OUT: TITLE IN: We apologise for the fault in the subtitles. Those responsible have been sacked. then: Mynd you, m00se bites Kan be pretty nasti ... TITLE OUT: TITLE IN: We apologise again for the fault in the subtitles.Those responsible for sacking the people who have just been sacked have been sacked. FADE OUT: FADE IN: Production ManagerJULLIAN DOYLE Assistant DirectorGERRY HARRISON Special EffectsJOHN HORTON Choreography Fight Director & Period ConsultantJOHN WALKER Make-up ArtistsPEARL RASHBASS, PAM LUKE PhotographyJULLIAN DOYLE Animation AssistanceLUCINDA COWELL, KATE HEPBURN M00se Trained byTUTTE HERMSGERV0RDENBR0TB0RDA DISSOLVE TO: Lighting Cameraman TERRY BEDFORD Special M00se Effects OLAF PROT M00se Costumes SIGGI CHURCHILL DISSOLVE TO: Designer ROY SMITH M00se Choreographed by HORST PROT III Miss Taylor's M00ses by HENGST DOUGLAS-HOME M00se trained to mix concrete and sign com- plicated insurance forms by JURGEN WIGG DISSOLVE TO: Editor JOHN HACKNEY M00ses' noses wiped by BJORN IRKESTORM-SLATER WALKER

Large m00se on the left half side of the screen in the third scene from the end,given a thorough grounding in Latin, French and "O" Level Geography by BO BENN

Suggestive poses for the M00se suggested byVIC ROTTER Antler-care byLIV THATCHER TITLE OUT: TITLE IN: The directors of the firm hired to continue the credits after the other people had been sacked, with it to be known that they have just been sacked.

The credits have been completed in an entirely different style at great expense and at the last minute. FADE OUT: TITLE ON YELLOW B.G Executive Producer JOHN GOLDSTONE & "RALPH" The Wonder Llama TITLE OUT: TITLE IN: Producer MARK FORSTARTER

Assisted by EARL J. LLAMA MIKE Q. LLAMA III SY LLAMA MERLE Z. LLAMA IX TITLE OUT: TITLE IN: Directed by 40 SPECIALLY TRAINED ECUADORIAN MOUNTAIN LLAMAS 6 VENEZUELAN RED LLAMAS 142 MEXICAN WHOOPING LLAMAS 14 NORTH CHILEAN GUANACOS (CLOSELY RELATED TO THE LLAMA) REG LLAMA OF BRIXTON 76000 BATTERY LLAMAS FROM "LLAMA-FRESH" FARMS LTD. NEAR PARAGUAY and TERRY GILLIAM AND TERRY JONES ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FADE OUT:

1EXTERIOR - CASTLE WALLS - DAY

Mist.Several seconds of it swirling about.silence possibly, atmospheric music.SUPERIMPOSE "England AD 787". after a few more seconds we hear hoofbeats in the distance. They come slowly closer.Then out of the mist comes KING ARTHUR followed by a SERVANT who is banging two half coconuts together.ARTHUR raises his hand.

SERVANT makes noises of horses halting, with a flourish.ARTHUR peers through the mist.CUT TO shot from over his shoulder: castle (e.g. Bodium) rising out of the mist.On the castle battlements a SOLDIER is dimly seen.He peers down.

Pause.

A Slight pause.Swirling mist.Silence.

ARTHUR raises his eyes heavenwards and nods to PATSY.They turn and go off into the mist.

SECOND SOLDIER

Wait a minute! Suppose two swallows carried it together?

Stillness.Silence again.

2ANIMATION/LIVE ACTION SEQUENCE - DEATH AND DEVASTATION

CUT TO Terry Gilliam's sequence of Brueghel prints.Sounds of strange medieval music.Discordant and sparse.Wailings and groanings.The last picture mixes through into live action. BIG CLOSE UP of contorted face upside down.A leg falls across it.Creaking noise.The bodies lurch away from CAMERA to reveal they are amongst a huge pile of bodies on a swaying cart that is lumbering away from CAMERA.It is pulled by a couple of ragged, dirty emaciated WRETCHES.Behind the cart walks another MAN who looks slightly more prosperous, but only on the scale of complete and utter impoverishment.He wears a black hood and looks sinister.

We follow the cart through a wretched, impoverished plague-ridden village.A few starved mongrels run about in the mud scavenging. In the open doorway of one house perhaps we jug glimpse a pair of legs dangling from the ceiling.In another doorway an OLD WOMAN is beating a cat against a wall rather like one does with a mat. The cart passes round a dead donkey or cow in the mud.And a MAN tied to a cart is being hammered to death by four NUNS with huge mallets.

CART DRIVER

Bring out your dead!

There are legs stick out of windows and doors.Two MEN are fighting in the mud - covered from head to foot in it.Another MAN is on his hands in knees shovelling mud into his mouth.We just catch sight of a MAN falling into a well.

The CART DRIVER looks at the LARGE MAN for a moment.Then they both do a quick furtive look up and down the street.The CART DRIVER very swiftly brings up a club and hits the OLD MAN. (Out of shot but the singing stops after a loud bonk noise.)

They turn ... Suddenly all the village fall to their knees, touching forelocks etc.ARTHUR and PATSY ride into SHOT, slightly nose to the air, they ride through without acknowledging anybody.After they pass, the LARGE MAN turns to the CART DRIVER.

3EXTERIOR - DAY

ARTHUR and PATSY riding.They stop and look.We see a castle in the distance, and before it a PEASANT is working away on his knees trying to dig up the earth with his bare hands and a twig.ARTHUR and PATSY ride up, and stop before the PEASANT

DENNIS: I'm thirty-seven ... I'm not old.

ARTHUR: Well - I can't just say:"Hey, Man!'

An OLD WOMAN appears.

DENNIS winks at the OLD WOMAN.

... and I am your king ....